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Student name: _________________________________Date:_______________
MODULE 13
Explain the importance of attendance and
punctuality on the job.
Objectives:
A. Explain
why an employer needs employees to be on time.
B. Describe
how an employee could learn to be on time for work.
C. Explain
the benefits from being punctual and regular in job
attendance.
MODULE 13: INFORMATION SHEET
TO THE STUDENT:
Read and study the information sheet and then complete the student
activities at the end of this module.
Attendance and punctuality at
the job
"I can't understand why my boss
keeps riding me about being a few minutes late every day. I make up the time at
the end of the day - I mean, what's the big deal? It's not like anything
important happens in the time I'm late. Besides, my boss doesn't understand how
busy I am. I have a lot of stuff to do in the morning."
Does
this story sound familiar or do you know anyone who acts or feels this way? One
thing is certain. Most people, including yourself, live busy lives, but we must
learn to take care of priorities. A job, whether we like it or not, is one of
the top necessities of life. We need the money we earn not only to enjoy our
lifestyle, but also to actually survive.
When
employers schedule their work day and plan what is to be accomplished, they
need to know they can depend on the people they have scheduled. It is
difficult, if not impossible, to plan a day or assignment schedule if you don't
know when or if a key employee will show up. And face it, every employee may
not realize how far-reaching his importance is.
The Smale Printing Company was
waiting for a rush delivery of special paper to finish a job due at the end of
the day. The delivery truck arrived promptly at 8:00 AM as scheduled. Ron, the
small company's only warehouse man, was 25 minutes late for work so he had not
arrived. He had the keys for the forklift locked in his desk and had his desk
keys with him. The delivery man waited 15 minutes and then pulled out to make
other important deliveries, promising to return later in the day. The company
missed an important deadline and lost a number of future contracts because of
the incident. Not only did Ron's tardiness cost the company production time and
money, he affected the earning power of his co-workers.
Being
habitually late or missing work is not a personal private thing--it does affect
others. When one member of the team is not there to do his/her assignment,
others suffer.
Monica has her day all planned.
Finally she could catch up on all the typing that has been piling up for Mr.
Goldstein. She's in a good mood as she arrives at work and sits down at her
desk. That changes very quickly when Marge approaches her.
"Monica, Nora called in sick
again today so you're going to have to cover the switchboard."
Monica is really ticked off. Not
only is she getting further behind in her own job, but she feels like she
should be paid for two jobs. She also is fuming with resentment at Nora, who
misses work quite a bit. At lunch, she and the other secretaries have a bashing
fest with Nora as the (deserved?) target.
Of
course, employers do not expect you to work if you are truly ill. They also
realize that emergencies occasionally come up that require tardiness. In these
cases, it is extremely important to let your employer know as early as possible
so that appropriate action can be taken to cover for you while you are out.
Unfortunately,
though, being constantly late for work, or missing it altogether, are easy
habits to fall into. Each time it happens it gets a little easier to do it or
accept it again. These are habits that could cost you not only your job, but
also a chance at future employment as well.
Employers
need dependable people.
Brad is a good worker. He knows his
job duties well. When he assigns him a job, Brad's boss is confident that Brad
will do the job well and on time. The problem with Brad is that his attendance
is spotty. He calls in sick quite often. While he is there he is very
dependable, but in the normal day to day schedule, he is not. When he's not at
work, the job doesn't get done.
In
fact, an employer would actually rather have an employee who is less capable on
a job and is at work every day than an employee who is very capable but misses
work a lot!!! Why? It's called dependability. Employers don't like to play
guessing games. There is money as well as reputation at stake and they must
know that a job will be covered or completed on time.
Even
if you have no qualms about leaving an employer hanging, you should think about
Number 1—yourself.
Larry
was telling his friend Clark, "I
can't believe it. My boss docked me a day's pay just because I kind of forgot
to call in sick last week. And he always tells me what a great job I do. That's
the thanks I get from that Jerk."
Larry
had better watch it. The next time he fails to call, he could get fired. Many
companies and businesses have a normal progression of consequences for being
late, not calling in sick, or missing too much work. This usually follows this
basic pattern: (1) a verbal reprimand by the boss, (2) a written reprimand, (3)
docking of pay, and (4) firing.
Employers
need dependable people to get the job done. Good attendance and punctuality
also show an employer that you have a good attitude toward your job.
Dependability and attitude go a long way in helping you to get pay raises,
promotions, and better references.
Erica and Susan are discussing their
jobs one day.
"My boss says he doesn't need a
clock because I always walk through the door at 7:15," said Erica.
"I thought you don't start
until 7:30," said Susan, taking a bite out of her Big Mac.
"What the heck do you get there
so early for? It's not like you're getting paid for it."
"I don't like to be rushing in.
I like to get there and get all set and have a cup of coffee. The company's
small and my boss depends on me. I got in the habit of going early and it's
been great."
Erica
has a good attitude and will go far in her career.
Punctuality
does not only apply to arrival time in the morning, but also to returning from
lunch or break.
Nancy liked to do a lot of her
personal errands over her lunch hour. Her employer, when asked, told her to
feel free to leave company grounds to do so. The problem arose when Nancy
started getting slack on watching the clock or just wanted to fit in one more
stop. She never seemed to have quite enough time to do everything so she
started leaving a few minutes early and getting back a few minutes late. Her
employer started to notice when she was not at her station and Nancy received a
verbal reprimand.
Many
employers let employees leave company grounds during breaks, but if this policy
is taken advantage of, this policy could change.
Remember,
when you work for someone and accept pay from them, you are forming a work
contract. It is your duty to be at work regularly and on time. Employers don't
hire people to give away money - they hire them to produce. No matter how
unimportant you may think your job is, if an employer is paying you to do the
job, he thinks it is important and should get his money's worth.
And
don't forget - success is built on team work and if you don't do your part -
you cause the team to erode and begin to fall apart. When you do your part, the
company succeeds and makes money, and you make money.
GO
TO WORK - IT PAYS!
MODULE 13: STUDENT ACTIVITIES
TO THE STUDENT: Read and study the above
information sheet and then complete these activities to demonstrate your
understanding of the importance of attendance and punctuality on the job.
Answer
the following questions:
1. List
four reasons why an employer needs his employees to be on time.
a.
b.
c.
d.
2. Name the
four standard steps of reprimanding an employee that takes off too much time,
doesn't call in, or is chronically late.
a.
b.
c.
d.
3. Write a
persuasive paragraph explaining, from a co-worker’s point of view, why you
should be at work regularly and on time.
4. Describe
the steps you should take if there is a true emergency or you are very sick and
can't go to work.
5. Think!
You are always five or ten minutes late to work. Make a quick list of action
steps you could take to remedy this situation.
6. You be the Boss. You own a small
landscaping business and one of your best workers has missed five days in the
last two months and has been late seven times. You've called him to your
office. You don't want to lose him but he's affecting the company. Write out
what you would say to this worker.
7. Describe
what loyalty and dependability have to do with being at work regularly.
8. List the three most important benefits you can gain
from being punctual and regular in your job attendance.
a.
b.
c.
MODULE 13: STANDARDS ADDRESSED IN
THIS MODULE
Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards for
Career Education and Work
13.3.11. Career Retention (Keeping a Job)
A.
Analyze work habits
needed to advance within a career.
Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards for Reading,
Writing, Speaking and Listening (RWSL)
1.1.11. Learning
to Read Independently
E.
Establish a reading
vocabulary by identifying and correctly using new words acquired through the
study of their relationships to other words. Use a dictionary or related
reference.
1.4.11. Types
of Writing
C. Write persuasive pieces.
·
Include a clearly
stated position or opinion.
·
Include convincing,
elaborated and properly cited evidence.
·
Develop reader
interest.
·
Anticipate and
counter reader concerns and arguments.
·
Include a variety of
methods to advance the argument or position.
1.5.11. Quality
of Writing
A.
Write with a sharp,
distinct focus.
·
Identify topic, task
and audience.
·
Establish and
maintain a single point of view.
B.
Write using
well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
·
Gather, determine
validity and reliability of, analyze and organize information.
·
Employ the most effective
format for purpose and audience.
·
Write fully
developed paragraphs that have details and information specific to the topic
and relevant to the focus.
F. Edit
writing using the conventions of language.
·
Spell all words
correctly.
·
Use capital letters correctly.
·
Punctuate correctly
(periods, exclamation points, question marks, commas, quotation marks,
apostrophes, colons, semicolons, parentheses, hyphens, brackets, ellipses).
·
Use nouns, pronouns,
verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions and interjections
properly.
·
Use complete
sentences (simple, compound, complex, declarative, interrogative, exclamatory
and imperative).
Secretary’s Commission on Achieving
Necessary Skills (SCANS)
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Self-Management: Assesses own knowledge,
skills, and abilities accurately; sets well-defined and realistic personal
goals; self-starter.
| ©
2003. The Professional Personnel Development Center , Penn State University. |
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